'Munich' recounts the dramatic story of the secret Israeli squad assigned to track down and assassinate 11 Palestinians believed to have planned the 1972 Munich massacre -- and the personal toll this mission of revenge takes on the… More'Munich' recounts the dramatic story of the secret Israeli squad assigned to track down and assassinate 11 Palestinians believed to have planned the 1972 Munich massacre -- and the personal toll this mission of revenge takes on the team and the man who leads it.

It's a brutal, merciless, somber picture, utterly devoid of the heart-tugging sentimentality that always creeps into even his best films. It is also, unfortunately, timid when it should be bold and clunky when it should be eloquent.

Munich is an important story to be sure but an important movie isn't the same as a great one. It's told in such a muddled way the message is easily lost, except for the moments when it is hammered home at the cost of story-telling believability.

An excellent movie! A little slow, but once the story and background information develops, it is worth the time because you're attached. I highly recommend… MoreAn excellent movie! A little slow, but once the story and background information develops, it is worth the time because you're attached. I highly recommend this film!

Bethany Murphy

Not my sort of film so therefore it really bored me.

Alex roy

Munich is a powerful film detailing the operation dubbed "Operation Wrath Of God" a secret mission carried out by the Israeli Mossad to target and… MoreMunich is a powerful film detailing the operation dubbed "Operation Wrath Of God" a secret mission carried out by the Israeli Mossad to target and murder Palestinians responsible for the September 5, 1972 Munich Massacre where 11 Israeli Athletes were murdered by Palestinians Black Friday Operatives. Spielberg's film has polarized many, due to the obvious fact that people are strongly separated over the sensitive issue. I won't list my personal beliefs in this review. Munich is based on Canadian Journalist George Jonas' book, Vengeance. The film recounts the retaliatory attacks on those responsible. Spielberg tells an important story amidst the strong political message. Spielberg is not one shy away from a controversial subject and this is very true of Munich. This film examines every aspect, and the motivation as to why the Israeli secret service undertook such an undertaking. Munich has a terrific cast of actors and they all deliver great performances. Spielberg combines action, drama, suspense into one of the most politically driven thrillers to ever grace the screen. Munich is a flawless film. Everything is superb about it, and the message that Spielberg tries to convey is very clear. This film is one of Steven Spielberg's greatest films, and I think it's an important film to watch for people who don't fully understand the real nature of the matter in the Middle East. Munich is a flawless action thriller and is one of Spielberg's best.

Dan Schultz

A well-done, delicately constructed drama that has a very personal feel to it from director Steven Spielberg, concerning the Munich terrorist attack against… MoreA well-done, delicately constructed drama that has a very personal feel to it from director Steven Spielberg, concerning the Munich terrorist attack against Israelian athletes during the 1972 Olympic Games, where two were killed and nine others were injured. Israel, determined not to let this slide, quietly hires a skilled agent (Eric Bana) and a team to kill those responsible for this planned attack. While the film is certainly sprawling and aiming for that usual Spielbergian epic-scope it doesn't achieve overall, it is still a skillful effort from one of the best directors in the world. The moral crisis of the situation, answering violence with more violence, is handled very well. There are some scenes that feel out of place (notably one near the end combining the attack with a sex scene), but Bana's strong performance drives the film home. Not the best work Spielberg has done, but still a worthwhile effort.

Jim Careter

Munich is not only a genius film, it is the kind of film that makes me proud to be a Spielberg fan. The 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany, were supposed to be a… MoreMunich is not only a genius film, it is the kind of film that makes me proud to be a Spielberg fan. The 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany, were supposed to be a peaceful gathering of outstanding athletes from around the world, but on September 5, the games took a sinister turn when eight masked Palestinian terrorists invaded the Olympic village, killing two Israeli athletes and abducting nine others. The kidnappers demanded safe passage out of Germany in addition to the release of Arab prisoners in Israeli and German prisons, but when they arrived at the Munich airport they were met by German police and military forces, and in the melee that followed, all nine hostages were killed. In the wake of the killings, the Israeli government gave Mossad, the nation's intelligence agency, a special assignment to track down and eliminate the Palestinians responsible for the death of the Israeli athletes. A young and idealistic Mossad agent (Eric Bana) is assigned to the four-man unit created to wipe out the Olympic terrorists, but while he believes in serving his country, as their bloody work goes on he begins to buckle under the weight of his work and wonders if he can morally justify his nation's acts of revenge. The plot is very long and interesting and never dies down to be one of the most interesting movies I have seen. The cast is brilliant, Eric Bana does his best role to date and i truly loved his role, everyone else did a great job as well. The action was amazing, I know it might of not been a action film but it still seemed amazing in my eyes. This movie is one of Spielbergs best, and truly a masterpiece.

El Hombre Invisible

Generally, I tend to stay away from talking up commercial mainstream films, but sometimes one or two stand out. I've grown up with Spielberg films. Most… MoreGenerally, I tend to stay away from talking up commercial mainstream films, but sometimes one or two stand out. I've grown up with Spielberg films. Most I've really enjoyed, while others are a little too sweet. I've agreed with critics labelling him, "The director who never grew up". That changed with his direction on Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan. Whether you agree with the politics or not, they offer food for thought and are very well made films. Munich follows in that tradition, moreso than Raiders, Close Encounters, Jaws, etc.
Although not as "classic" as Schindler's List or Saving Private Ryan have become, it's a reminder that Munich was made by "that" director. A terrific docu-style opening scene, solid acting by the main cast as well as supporting actors, great cinematography, an overall gritty feel and a steady pace all add up to a solid thriller.
Spielberg shyed away from picking sides, but instead showed empathy for both:
"Jews don't do wrong because our enemies do wrong. We're supposed to be righteous"
"Palestinians didn't create terrorism. Palestinian lands were taken by bloodshed and terrorism"
<a href="http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/?action=view&current=munich.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/munich.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Jens S.

One of Spielberg's more serious movies, a story about the assigned killings of Palestinians by the Mossad in the 70s and what it did to victims and… MoreOne of Spielberg's more serious movies, a story about the assigned killings of Palestinians by the Mossad in the 70s and what it did to victims and assassins. The very convincing acting, good dialogs and well picked sceneries carry this movie. The original news footage creates a very realistic, somewhat depressive feeling. The film has a lot of smart things to say about the problem Israel vs. Palestine without really taking a side. It does help to know about the terror attack of 1972 during the Munich Olympics, because the film does not offer a lot of explaining. Very touching, interesting and important.

Sophie Burgess

Whilst it's a bit too long for my liking, it's a great piece of cinema. I knew nothing about the real life event but now I certainly do (as long as… MoreWhilst it's a bit too long for my liking, it's a great piece of cinema. I knew nothing about the real life event but now I certainly do (as long as it's mostly close to the truth). On their own, none of the characters are particularly likable, but somehow together I get a feeling of camaraderie and I want them to succeed. The attacks are always very tense and dramatic which helps you bond with the characters, especially with the little girl situation which is helped by the fantastic cast. Not a film for everyone but definitely worth a look for those with interests in history and film.

Eric Alvarez

A dead-on movie portraying a very historic event. Brilliant.

Steven Carrier

I think "Munich" is Steven Spielberg's least sentimental and most thought provoking film. "Munich" works on several levels. The first… MoreI think "Munich" is Steven Spielberg's least sentimental and most thought provoking film. "Munich" works on several levels. The first is that it is an interesting example of representational violence and responsibility in cinema. "Munich" also works as a gripping espionage thriller and finally as a cinematic answer to the terrorists attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Spielberg is addressing the fact that we are dealing with the same issues of of race, territory and terrorism today as we were back in 1972 and it's mostly effective. Where the film does falter is that it's rather emotionless. I admire the fact that Spielberg refrains from his trademark sentimentality (that mares films like "Schindler's List," "Saving Private Ryan" and "War of the Worlds") but he has not quite figured out how to make us feel in other ways. It would have helped if he had been a bit more emotionally daring with "Munich." Instead he just crafts the picture as even handed as he can. Still, points are awarded for some ace, Altman-esque cinematography (zoom lenses, master shots, objects from the 'real world' constantly interfering with the image) and some brooding work from Eric Bana and Daniel Craig. "Munich" may not be a total success but it's a great film about global politics and violence in the vein of Costa-Gavres's "Missing" than Oliver Stone's "JFK."

Jeremy Smith

Spielberg Triumphant Once Again. A gripping, courageous and relevant film for our time. Munich poses questions but not answers: Is Revenge, counter-revenge and… MoreSpielberg Triumphant Once Again. A gripping, courageous and relevant film for our time. Munich poses questions but not answers: Is Revenge, counter-revenge and the endless cycle of it, the solution?, Who is justified Israel or Palestine? Who will win? And Will the conflict ever end?
<br/>Onimously the twin towers loom in the background of the last secne with Geffory Rush.